Sunday, April 8, 2012

Returning to the Scene of the Crime

On Easter Sunday, the Tigers rose from the dead two different times to defeat the mighty Woodhead Nation BawSawx in eleven innings by the score of 13-12. Max Scherzer got shelled, Austin Jackson collected four more hits, and the combination of Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila were awesome in the clutch.

But you already knew all of that. What I’m here to tell you is what you didn’t see as I once again braved the wild that is the Tigers fanbase and attended the game at Comerica Park. How was it, you ask? Oh, I’ll tell you.

It was friggin’ awesome.

After watching the Tigers slug their way past the Sawwwx yesterday, Jen from the bi-monthly updated Old English D blog started bugging me about attending Sunday’s game. At first, I didn’t want to with so many death threats thrown my way after daring to complain about all the attempted murders in my section on Opening Day, but the more I thought about it, the better of an idea that it sounded like. After all, I had no family obligations this Easter and it’s the first time in quite a while that I had a day with absolutely nothing to do.

So despite the warnings of several mouth-breathing morons that apparently own computers without a Shift key or spell check, I bought a couple tickets on StubHub last night and once again headed for the D. This time, the seats were in Section 130, Row 31. Here was the view.

Very nice. The weather was perfect. The crowd was into the game, polite to each other, and rabid for the Tigers. The only thing close to violence in my section was when Jen threatened to stab me with a pencil whenever Nick Punto did something annoying. Luckily for me, Jen is secretly a creepy 75 year old man and needed that pencil to diligently keep score of the action like it was 1965.

How cool was the crowd? In front of me was a girl in an Eric Munson shirt/jersey! When do you EVER see that? The only way I could have been more impressed is if she had a Jeff Larish one on. I loved it. See?

Sure, it’s only through three games, but Austin Jackson is showing the world what Dave Dombrowski saw in him when he pulled the trigger on the controversial Curtis Granderson deal a couple years back. The kid is on fire and if he continues to produce anywhere near the way he is now, this team is going to score a boatload of runs.

Miguel Cabrera is the best hitter I’ve ever seen. When he came up with two on in the 9th, everyone rose, knowing something special was going to happen. And sure as shit, the big man drilled the tying home run and sent the CoPa crowd into hysterics. I even hugged Jen, something I would normally never consider doing since she secretly scares me a bit.

After Boston took the lead in the 11th, dozens of people filed for the exits. This was my only complaint of my fellow fans on Sunday. I mean, Cabrera and company were coming up again. This isn’t the 2003 Tigers anymore. It sounds corny, but the 2012 bunch, despite starting pitching concerns early on, just seem to feel like a special team.

And yup, Cabrera delivered again in the bottom of the 11th with a single. Prince Fielder followed with a hit-it-where-they-ain’t single down the left field line. Big Mig showed while not quick, he’s a smart baserunner and advanced to third on a wild pitch that didn’t really stray that far from the catcher. Delmon Young, looking grumpy all day at having to be the DH, launched a long sac fly to bring home Cabrera. And of course, Alex Avila, The Savior, on Easter of all days, delivered the walk off homer, thwarted the evil ways of that prick Punto, and made Bobby Valentine possibly consider suicide. I even hugged Jen again. What a moment.

In twenty plus years of attending games, only the Magglio walkoff in 2006 was better than today. The Tigers are 3-0. The Yanks and Sawx are both 0-3. ESPN may shut down if this keeps up.

The team has a day off tomorrow and they’ll need it to rest the pen and figure out what’s going on in the rotation. In the meantime, all I can say is thank you to the Detroit Tigers for giving us all one hell of an opening weekend on the field.

How dare you root for the Tigers when you live about six inches into another state! To be honest you live closer to CoPa than do, lol. But it was an amazing game wasn't it? I wasn't sure they were going to pull it off but I had a gut feeling it was going to end in our favor. Really looking like it's going to be an amazing season.

Another wishy washy fan- I realize you are not directing it to the Tigers, however in essence- you are. The fans you see on opening day are the same fans you see at game 3, game 89, or game 162. I know, because I am one of them. I will never criticize the Tigers nor the city of Detroit - I have been rooting for the Tigers since 1969 and attending games since 1977 and have a great experience eversingle time. If you go in with a bad attitude, you will find trouble. If you want to talk about the product on the field, then stick to that. If you want to focus on what troubles or faults you can find- then focus on that. But please do not be a band wagon master. Agsain, please stay at home and root for the Indians, you two deserve each other.

I...I don't understand all of the hate. You do know what type of blog you're reading, right? It's (practically) a satire on everything Tigers. Just because he hits the nail on the head about irresponsible, highly intoxicated individuals at games doesn't mean he's condemning the entire fan-base, or the city. Let's be honest, opening day at most ballparks is like St. Patrick's day. I have friends who only pay attention to the Tigers when/if they're in the playoffs that actively seek tickets because "the boss wants to go just as bad, so we get a vacation day to go drink." Ask them about our bullpen, 5th starter(s), who could replace Fister now that he's on the IR, etc. - they would look at you like a deer in the headlights. Mention the names Verlander, Fielder, or...Inge, and they can tell you everything ESPN has ever mentioned (in Inge's case...I don't know). That's the crowd, deal with it.

If you want the true baseball crowd, look for the fans that get tickets to a mid-week, afternoon game against the Orioles.

TL;DREmbrace this site for what it is; Don't take everything so personal.

is this an argment rebuttal that you learned in one of your Toledo colleges? Regardless, i was merely pointing out the scathing review of the moderator's opening day comments. my friend flew from Florida to watch the ceremonies and had one of the best experiences of his Tiger watching career. Enough said, I am not going to let you and other detractors ruin what is going to be a history making season for the Tigers.

I am going up Tuesday and Wednesday to face the Rays. Takng my 9 year old grandson to his first Tiger game (his mom raised him a yankee, which will soon change-lol) On Wednesday, I will be the one watching the game from behind home plate, not the one watching the crowd to see what kind of trouble I can criticize - GO TIGERS

Agreed. But I am also not going to sit here and tell you every lineup Leyland puts on the field is "genius" like I am sure you would. If that makes me wishy-washy, well so be it. It also might make your point moot if you make fun of Toledo colleges, and can't spell argument. Just saying. If you don't like what Rogo has to say, go somewhere else.

Ii understand it is Rogo's site, however a rebuttal is always welcomed I am sure. My comments were of the professional nature and did not resort to name-calling which I am sure Rogo welcomes. To clarify what I think of Leyland's moves, I believe Inge should just be cut loose, Below should be the 5th starter, D. Young should be full-time D- Raburn at 2nd and Dirks in left. But I am not the manager, nor will I criticise Leyland, merely question. Let's not waste the forum between us, I respect your concerns and the need for you to protect Rogo- let's concentrate on our common goal - GO TIGERS

I hope you and your grandson have a good time like I did yesterday. But if your direct seating area is filled with non-stop cursing drunks and three fistfights in your section like I saw on Opening Day, including one involving the person directly next to you, it'll be interesting to see how easy it is for you to ignore.

Yea because a "wishy washy", "bandwagon master", would take the time to be so committed to updating (almost everyday) a Detroit Tigers blog...you have the right to start your own blog and if you want to focus only on what goes on only on the field do it yourself, but don't sit here and try to start trouble just because they are not according to you a "true Tigers Fan"...who are you to say that?

So calling someone wishy-washy within the first three words of your post is professional? Calling someone a bandwagon master isn't name calling? And ripping on Ohio, Cleveland, and the Indians is another example of how "professional" you are?

That's like saying the same people that go out and get hammered on New Year's Eve are also going to the bar every other night of the year, which simply isn't true; otherwise, I would've made a shit-ton of bartending tips every night of the year back in the day. Sure, there are a few regulars to be found amidst the amateurs, but those aren't the ones causing the trouble.

Additionally, you, as a Tiger fan, should know better than to tell another Tiger fan to go root for the Indians. If someone told me that, I would choke his or her mother and set his/her car on fire.

Furthermore, try reading some more of this blog before you make accusations of "bandwagoning"; otherwise, you just come off sounding like an ill-informed prick. Gather sufficient information before you make judgments.

Do Not Take This Blog Seriously.

The only thing I enjoy more than Detroit Tigers baseball is making fun of it and those that write about it. Most things you read here are meant in a humorous way. So do everyone a favor and lighten up. It's a joke. Oftentimes a bad one...

DesigNate Robertson was named after ex-Tiger pitcher, Nate Robertson and my hatred of his performances on the mound. He will be missed.

To those with an open mind and a sense of humor, I welcome you. Lets have some fun.